Fish stringer



Aug. 15, 1950 M. R. LOREE I FISH s'mmcsa Filed Apiil 2a, 1947 INVENTOR MNTON R. LOREE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 1 p i I 2,518,915 v j I rls'iis'rnmcna Minton R Loree, Mount Morris, Mich. v Application April 28, 1 941, s'eriainmigsia The invention pertains, to fish'stringers for safely holding fish over the Side ofthe boat and trailing them in the water.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved fish-stringer. whichis convenient to install and use and which safely secures the captured fish and trails them in the water.

It is also an object of my invention to provide v ciaims. 40152297 I a fish-stringer having improved retaining means for more conveniently receiving and for more safely holding captured fish.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a fish-stringer comprising snap locking means in combination with resilien't holding means for receiving and securing tlie needle after it has been threaded through the gills of the capturedfish. I g

Further'obiects and advantages are within'the scope of my invention, such as relate toqthe .ar-

rangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification in conjunction with the drawing disclosing specific embodiments of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing my improved fish-stringer, with the needle removed for use and dotted lines showing its secured position on the clamp;

Fig. 2 is a back edge elevational view of the clamp with the dotted lines showing the needle mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a fragment of the chain with the fish retainer thereon.

Referring more specifically to the figures of the drawing, it will be seen that my improved fish-stringer comprises clamp means H for attachment to a boat. For example, this clamp means may consist of a conventional C-clamp of a size and shape suitable to be installed over the gunwale of a boat (not shown) and whereupon it may be conveniently and quickly secured, by turning the thumb screw [3,.in a well known manner. For holding fish strung thereon, a fiexible member I5 is provided having one end positively but releasably secured to the clamp, as by a snap H, or in any suitable manner. This fiexible member l5 may be a chain having a plurality of interconnected links l9, and a fish threading needle 2! is secured to the other end for stringing fish thereon, in a manner which will be readily understood by fishermen.

"This needle 2| is preferably an elongated 'metallic member, and it may be conveniently made of a piece of heavy wire. One end of this needle member is deformed suitably to form the open frame 23 of a snap fastener. A fiat spring 25 isv secured atone end for closing the open side of this frame 23, by the'other end extending across the opening and being inwardly depressible, as shown. The needle 21 is provided with calibration marks 22 representing units of length such as inches, orany other desired units may be utilized, so that the length of a captured fish may be conveniently ascertained.

Projecting from the clamp is a headed pin or screw 21, and after stringing fish upon the flexible member IS, the snap fastener 25 of the needle 'may'be quickly and conveniently snapped and locked thereon, as represented by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. 'Also the lower portionof the needle may be at the same time pressed into a yieldable resilient clip 29 which is secured on the "clamp"spaced from the headed pin. The clip 29 may be made of spring steel of a somewhat U-shape having inturned contacting portions with outwardly flaring ends, and it is secured on the back of the clamp, as by a screw or pin 3|. Such locking and holding means firmly and safely holds the needle 2| in an arrangement which is convenient for measuring the fish with both hands free and the needle is quickly releasable when it is desired to string more fish there- As a further precaution to prevent the loss of fish, if the needle might be accidently dropped into the water, I provide a fish retainer 33 which may be formed of a short piece of steel wire or other resilient material, looped around through one link of the chain with the ends passing through another link and projecting toward opposite sides of the chain, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. As fish are strung upon the chain, the

' ends of the retainer 33 yield and permit the fish to be freelythreaded upon the flexible member I5. The fish are easily removed from the other end of the chain by merely taking the snap I! out of the clamp ll without removing the clamp from the boat, post or other support. When removed, the clamp l I serves as a handle for carrying the fish.

Although the chain shown is of the well known type having links stamped double out of sheet metal and folded over in inter-looped relation, it will be understood that other types of chain, or even a cord of woven threads or plastic, may be utilized and that the fish retainer wire 33 may 3 be similarly installed around adjacent links or through the woven members.

It will be seen that I have provided a fish stringer which is easy and convenient to use and which is safe from loss while presenting a measuring scale for convenient use with both hands free. The improved fish stringer is easy and convenient to attach to a post, boat, or other structure and there is no fumbling around looking for a measuring-stick oruuntying It is flpparentlhw; within the$mjope df my irrvention modifications and different arrangements may be made other than herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending variations thereof.

What is claimed as the inventionzisz 1. In a fish-stringer the combination of, clamp means suitable for attachmerivmounti'ngfiamexb ble member having one end secured to said clamp means, a needle attached to the other end (if said flexible member for stringing ,fish thereon, 'rmilien'tsna'p lock means cooperatively disposed -''on said clamp means and on sai'd'neeiile for releasdiilylocking said needle to-sa'i'd-clamp"means to hold fish strung upon a 'closeiiioop of sa'itl "flexible 'ineinber, 'andresilient homing means on said clamp 'means spaced from said lock means ior'yieldingly receiving and holding said needle.

2. In combination in a fish strin'ger "a 'clamp of a suitable size and shape *for clamping :at- 30 tachmezit mounting, a "flexible member insuring :one end "releasably attached to sriid clamp, 'a needleattached to the 'other'end or saidfiexiliie member for stringing fish thereon, a heatiedfpin projecting irom saiii -'c1amp, a resilient 'fsnap on -end of said needle For releasabiy loekingon said pin, and 'yielidable holding means 'on "said cl'amp "in spaced re'lation from said 13in "for receivizigand h'oldin gsaidneetlle.

ii. "A "iish stringer in accordance with claim 2 and further characterized by said flexibie memher being 'a -chain having interconnecting links,

lB *ingume end secured to said clamp, a needle attachcd -t0 \the'other end of said flexible member for stringing fish thereon, a headed pin proilmm-mifl clamp, said needle having an offset rportion adjacent an end thereof and a 'ila't spring secured to the needle adjacent said offset portion and providing therewith a frame, vs'o that the needle may be "conveniently snapped 'upon'or removed from the headecipin "on "said clamp.

"'7. .A iismstrmger needle comprising, "a needle having an 'oirset portion 4 adjacent an end thereof and 'a "flat spring secured to "the needle atljacent said 'o'flset portion and providing there- "with a rrame.

'M'INTON "R. LOREE.

REFERBNGES OI IEIJ i Ihe .ifdllouiing inferences .fare of record Lin the mic of this patent: 

